The Giga presses - which will likely be a reconfigured version of the same Giga Press 9000 that makes Telsa's Cybertruck - are the largest in the world, the size of a small house, and produce a closing force of more than 9,000 tons.
Volvo has ordered two 9,000-ton Giga presses for its plant in Košice, Slovakia, although the value of the contract was not disclosed. Volvo is in the process of building a $1.25 billion factory there that will be capable of producing 250,000 EVs per year. Production of its next-generation EVs is expected to begin in 2026.
IDRA also signed deals with Ford and Hyundai last month, at which time the company hinted at a "premium European automaker" as a new customer. Now that mystery is solved. Volvo, like other legacy automakers, has been exploring the cutting-edge technology pioneered by Tesla in hopes of ramping up EV production while saving on energy expenses.
Tesla's giga-casting technology, a production method that involves stamping larger chassis components rather than casting and welding numerous smaller parts, has been a game-changer - and while it has its critics in terms of quality risk, it reduces overall production costs to help offset the cost of battery packs, which account for 25% to 40% of the total cost of a BEV. Tesla reported a 30% reduction in production costs after adding giga-casting to its production lines in 2020.
IDRA said it has signed orders for 25 presses worldwide, with 21 already shipped to customers. Tesla has reportedly already received 14 presses, including two 9000 models for its new Cybertruck production facility in Austin, Texas.
Sources: IDRA, Automotive News
